Painter Edvard Munch was reported to suffer from depression, agoraphobia, hallucinations, as well as overcame a nervous breakdown. His mental illness inspired his famous painting, The Scream.

Sylvia Plath, known as one of the first confessional poets, bravely detailed her depression through her poems and in her novel The Bell Jar. Plath attempted to take her own life several times, beginning at age 20. 10 years later, she was successful.